UJoshuwa 23
1 Kwasekusithi emva kwensuku ezinengi emva kokuthi iNkosi isimphumuzile uIsrayeli ezitheni zonke zabo inhlangothi zonke, loJoshuwa wayesemdala elensuku ezinengi,
And it came to pass a long time after that YHWH had given rest unto Israel from all their enemies round about, that Joshua waxed old [and] stricken in age. (stricken...: Heb. come into days)
2 uJoshuwa wabiza uIsrayeli wonke, abadala babo, lenhloko zabo, labahluleli babo, lenduna zabo, wathi kubo: Mina sengimdala ngilensuku ezinengi.
And Joshua called for all Israel, [and] for their elders, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers, and said unto them, I am old [and] stricken in age:
3 Lina selibonile konke iNkosi uNkulunkulu wenu ekwenzileyo kulezizizwe zonke ngenxa yenu, ngoba iNkosi uNkulunkulu wenu yiyo elilweleyo.
And ye have seen all that YHWH your Elohim hath done unto all these nations because of you; for YHWH your Elohim [is] he that hath fought for you.
4 Bonani, ngilabele ngenkatho lezizizwe eziseleyo zibe yilifa lezizwe zenu, kusukela eJordani, lazo zonke izizwe engiziqumileyo, ngitsho kuze kube selwandle olukhulu lapho okutshona khona ilanga.
Behold, I have divided unto you by lot these nations that remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes, from Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, even unto the great sea westward. (westward: Heb. at the sunset)
5 INkosi uNkulunkulu wenu izazixotsha-ke phambi kwenu, izixotshe elifeni phambi kwenu, njalo lizakudla ilifa lelizwe, njengalokho iNkosi uNkulunkulu wenu ikhulumile kini.
And YHWH your Elohim, he shall expel them from before you, and drive them from out of your sight; and ye shall possess their land, as YHWH your Elohim hath promised unto you.
6 Ngakho qinani kakhulu ukugcina lokwenza konke okubhaliweyo egwalweni lomlayo kaMozisi, ukuze lingaphambuki kuwo liye ngakwesokunene loba ngakwesokhohlo,
Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not aside therefrom [to] the right hand or [to] the left;
7 ukuze lingangeni kulezi izizwe, lezi ezisele lani, lingaphathi ibizo labonkulunkulu bazo, lingafungisi ngabo, lingabakhonzi, lingakhothami kubo,
That ye come not among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their elohim, nor cause to swear [by them], neither serve them, nor bow yourselves unto them:
8 kodwa linamathele eNkosini uNkulunkulu wenu njengoba lenzile kuze kube lamuhla.
But cleave unto YHWH your Elohim, as ye have done unto this day. (But cleave...: or, For if ye will cleave, etc)
9 Ngoba iNkosi ixotshile elifeni phambi kwenu izizwe ezinkulu lezilamandla; lina-ke kakulamuntu ome phambi kwenu kuze kube lamuhla.
For YHWH hath driven out from before you great nations and strong: but [as for] you, no man hath been able to stand before you unto this day. (For YHWH ...: or, Then YHWH will drive)
10 Umuntu oyedwa kini uzaxotsha inkulungwane, ngoba iNkosi uNkulunkulu wenu yiyo elilwelayo, njengalokho ikhulumile kini.
One man of you shall chase a thousand: for YHWH your Elohim, he [it is] that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you.
11 Ngakho ziqaphelisiseni ukuthanda iNkosi uNkulunkulu wenu.
Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love YHWH your Elohim. (yourselves: Heb. your souls)
12 Ngoba uba libuyela lokubuyela, linamathele kunsali yalezizizwe, lezi ezisele lani, lithathane lazo, lingene kuzo, lazo kini,
Else if ye do in any wise go back, and cleave unto the remnant of these nations, [even] these that remain among you, and shall make marriages with them, and go in unto them, and they to you:
13 yazini lokwazi ukuthi iNkosi uNkulunkulu wenu kayiyikuqhubeka ngokuzixotsha elifeni lezizizwe phambi kwenu; kodwa zizakuba yisifu lomjibila kini, zibe luswazi enhlangothini zenu, lameva emehlweni enu, lize libhubhe liphele kulelilizwe elihle, iNkosi uNkulunkulu wenu elinike lona.
Know for a certainty that YHWH your Elohim will no more drive out [any of] these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which YHWH your Elohim hath given you.
14 Khangelani-ke, ngihamba lamuhla ngendlela yomhlaba wonke. Njalo liyazi enhliziyweni yenu yonke lemphefumulweni wenu wonke ukuthi akukho lelizwi elilodwa elehlulekayo kuwo wonke amazwi amahle iNkosi uNkulunkulu wenu ewakhulumileyo phezu kwenu; wonke ezile kini, akukho lelizwi elilodwa elehlulekayo kuwo.
And, behold, this day I [am] going the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which YHWH your Elohim spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, [and] not one thing hath failed thereof.
15 Kuzakuthi-ke, njengalokhu zonke izinto ezinhle iNkosi uNkulunkulu wenu eyazikhuluma kini sezilehlele, ngokunjalo iNkosi izalehlisela zonke izinto ezimbi, ize ilibhubhise liphele kulelilizwe elihle iNkosi uNkulunkulu wenu elinike lona.
Therefore it shall come to pass, [that] as all good things are come upon you, which YHWH your Elohim promised you; so shall YHWH bring upon you all evil things, until he have destroyed you from off this good land which YHWH your Elohim hath given you.
16 Uba liseqa isivumelwano seNkosi uNkulunkulu wenu eyalilaya sona, lisuke liyekhonza abanye onkulunkulu, likhothame kibo, khona ulaka lweNkosi luzalivuthela, libhubhe masinyane liphele kulelilizwe elihle elinike lona.
When ye have transgressed the covenant of YHWH your Elohim, which he commanded you, and have gone and served other elohim, and bowed yourselves to them; then shall the anger of YHWH be kindled against you, and ye shall perish quickly from off the good land which he hath given unto you.
